Fluid control device



Aug. 4, 1936. 'F. HOLMES 2 049,71

FLUID CONTROL DEVICE v Filed Oct. 13, 1954 2 Sheets- Sheet 1 I i i 26 5:53 64 1/; k 60 W (D 6:2 I 4 Q Q Zmoentot FRANK [.HOLMES Aug. 4, 1936. F. E. HOLMES FLUID CONTROL DEVICE Filed Oct. 13, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor FRANK E. HOLMES 3g X (I orneg Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,049,775 FLUID CONTROL DEVICE Frank E. Holmes, Pasadena, Calif.

Application October 13, 1934, Serial No. 748,235

12 Claims. (Cl. 103-117) This invention relates to fluid control devices such as pumps and motors. More'particularly, the invention relates to that type of pumpwhich is capable of adjustment whereby the device may 5 deliver a volume of fluid variable at will in accordance with the adjustment of the device while maintaining a given speed of operation of the driving element thereof. My invention contemplates not only an infinitely variable pump but 10, one whose direction of operation may be varied at will.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fluid pump of the type described which is of simple construction requiring a minimum num- 15 her of parts and operating with but a single inlet and a single outlet.

Further objects and advantages of this in vention will become apparent in the following detailed description thereof.

I 20 In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a vertical section through the casing of my pump disclosing the operating parts thereof.

Fig. 2'is a vertical section taken at right angles 25 to the Fig. 1 section, and disclosing the left-hand portion.

Figs. 3 and 4 are views corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2 with the casing removed and the operating parts in positions 90 out of phase with the posi- 30 tions of the parts in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but with the casing removed and with the operating parts "in neutral or ineffective positions.

Fig. 6 is a disassembled view of the operating 35 elements'of the pump, said'elements being shown in perspective.

The principle of operation of my pump can best be disclosd in connection with the figures of the drawings. The theory of this pump is the 40 creation of a plurality of expanding and contracting chambers which are designed to receive and discharge the fluid alternately during each revolution of the operating parts. The method whereby I create said chambers is as follows: 45 The operating parts are enclosed within a casing III consisting of two similar, detachable parts forming a substantially spherical, hollow interior portion II and bearing portion I2. Within the spherical portion II are positioned the three 50 operating elements I4, I5 and I6. Elements I4 and I6 are similar and comprise substantially hemi-spherical portions, each of which is slightly less in volume than a hemisphere by the amount of two segments cut from each side of a diam- 5 eter, so that when said portions are fitted within the spherical portion II of said casing I there is a certain amount of play. Within this area of motion there is provided the element I which forms also a universal joint between the members I4 and I6. For this purpose element I5 con- 5 sists of a' plate 20 which is provided with semicylindrical journal portions 2| and 22 on opposite surfaces thereof, said journal portions being at right angles to each other and socketed in semicylindrical bearing portions 23 and 24 within the respective members I4 and I6. It will thus be seen that a universal driving connection is established between members I4 and I6, so that the axes of rotation of said members may be adjusted relative to each other at will and rotary motion may nevertheless be transmitted from I one to the other. Each of said members I4 and I6 is provided with a journal portion 25 and 26 extending through the bearing portion I2 and ad justment chamberBI of the casing I0 respectively. The journal portion of member I4 fits closely within bearing I2 and is adapted to be driven from any suitable source of power when the device is operated as a pump.

The journal portion 26 extends loosely into 25' the adjustment chamber 6| within which it may be moved (in the plane of the paper in Fig. 1) so that the axis of rotation of member I6 may be either in line or out of line with respect to the axis of rotation of member I4. If the mem- 30 bers 25 and 26 are in line as shown in Fig. 5, then the parts assume the position shown in said figure, and upon rotation of member I4 all of said parts I4, I5 and I6 rotate about the same vertical axis. It will be seen that the fact that said members I4 and I6 have segments thereof cut away as shown at 30 and 3| symmetrically with respect to the vertical axis, causes the formation of four chambers, two upper chambers I and 2, and two lower chambers 3 and 4.

When the axes of members 25 and 26 are in the same vertical line as shown in Fig. 5, then throughout a complete revolution of said members the chambers I, 2, 3 and 4 remain of constant size without expansion or contraction. Under such conditions there. is obviously no pumping action and any fluid that would be fed into these chambers at one side would be discharged at the other side without additional pressure.

In order to create pumping action it is necesin the casing ID at 40 and 4|. Thus, if in Figs. 1 and 2 the shaft is rotating counter-clockwise, 40 is the inlet through which fluid is fed into the chambers I, 2, 3 and 4, and 41 is the outlet through which the fluid is discharged. In order to cause said chambers I, 2, 3 and 4 to expand for receiving fluid and contract for discharging-fluid at regular intervals throughout a revolution, it is necessary to offset the axis of journal portion 26 with respect to the axis of journal portion 25 (in the plane of the paper in Fig. 1) and at right angles tothe plane of inlet 40 and outlet 4|. Thus, by referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that with the journal portion 26 moved a maximum distance to the left (in said figure) there is set up in the course'of such revolution an oscillatory or wobble action of the intermediate, oscillatable plate l5 whereby each point of said plate moves through a complete oscillation consisting of a' downward movement and an upward movement once throughout each revolution of the pump members. This means that each chamber I, 2, 3 and 4 in the course of a revolution will expand and contract once. I

It will be seen that the two chambers on each side of member l5 extend for substantially half a revolution less that portion occupied by the journal portion 2| or 22. Thus, chambers I and .2 on the upper surface and chambers 3 and 4 let 40 or outlet 4| and prevent communication of the chambers with both the inlet and outlet side at the same time. Thus, for instance, in Fig. 2 the end of journal portion 2| occupies the entire distance across the inlet 40 and prevents chambers and 2 from communicating with both the inlet 40 and outlet 4| at the same time. As the parts continue to rotate in a counter-clock wise direction, the left-hand end of chamber 2 in Fig. 2 moves away from inlet 40 and into communication with outlet 4|.

By arranging the parts as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, that is, with the plane of adjustment of the axis of journal portion 26 at right angles to the plane of inlet 40 and outlet 4|, the chambers 2, 3 and 4 are successively caused to open as they begin to communicate with inlet 40 to receive fluid and remain open until they have passed out of communication with said inlet 4|], and then commence to close as they successively begin to communicate with outlet 4| to squeeze the fluid out under pressure, in other words, to provide the pumping action. The operation will become apparent from a study of Figs. 1 and 3 and corresponding Figs. 2 and 4, which illustrate one half-revolution of the parts, the second half-revotion being a duplicate of the first half. Thus, in Fig. 1 where the inlet 40 is in a plane perpendicular to the paper, we see that chamber is just coming into communication with inlet 40 and is about to begin to open to receive fluid. Chamber 2 is just leaving inlet 40 and is open and full of fluid. Lower chamber 3 is partly open for receiving fluid, and lower chamber 4 (see Fig. 2) is partly closed, that is, has partly discharged its fluid. Fig. 2 shows these parts in a right angle view. Fig. 3 shows the park moved through a quarter revolution. We now see that chamber is in communication with inlet 40, having opened part-way. Chamber 3. is completely fllled preparatory to discha g into outlet 4|, while chamber 4 has comple its di ch rge other of the axis of member 25.

and is closed just preparatory to coming into engagement with inlet 40 to be filled agai Chamber 2 is partly discharged.

The next turn of the parts through 90 brings them back to the position of Fig. 1, except that 5 chambers and 2 are interchanged, as are chambers 3 and 4. A further turn of 90 brings the parts into the same position shown in Fig. 3 except that chambers and 2 are interchanged as are chambers 3 and 4. And finally, the last 10 turn of 90 brings the parts back to the position shown in Fig. 1. This description of operation discloses that each of the four chambers in passing the inlet 40 receives fluid and in passing outlet 4| discharges the same.

The amount of contraction and expansion of each chamber I, 2, 3 and 4 depends upon the degree to which ,the axis of journal portion 26 has been displaced with respectto the axis of journal portion 25. When these axes are in line 20 as shown in Fig. 5 there is no expansion or contraction of said chambers in the course of a revolution, but as said axes are displaced with respect to each other the expansion and contraction of each chamber in the course of a revolu- 25 tion increases. Since the amount of pumping is a direct function of the amount of expansion and contraction of said chambers, such pumping may be adjusted at will by controlling the displacement of the axes 'of said portions 25 and 28. Since the members I4 and I6 are housed within a spherical interior H in casing l0 and are connected by a universal connection, either of said members may be freely adjusted, but in the cons'truction shown the member 26 is the one that is adjusted. For this purpose it may be housed within a movable block 60, said block being guided in a housing or adjustment chamber 6| formed within the casing I0 and adjusted by any suitable means which will cause swinging of said member 26 (in the plane of the paper in Fig. 1). One such means is disclosed as a link 62 guided in casing H! on bearing portions 63 and linearly movable by any suitable means, as for instance by lock-nuts 64 threaded thereon and bearing against stop-members 55 so that said link 62 may be moved in one direction or the other to vary the angular displacement of journal member 25 and hence hemispherical member l8.

Not only may the degree of pumping be varied by displacing said journal member 28, but the direction of pumping may be reversed, without reversing the direction of rotation of driving shaft 25, by moving said member to one side or the Thus, by moving the journal member 28 to the right in Fig. 1 past the axis of member 25, the opening and closing of chambers l, 2, 2 and 4 with resmet to ports and 4| is reversed and said chambers will close as they pass port 40 instead of opening, so that said port becomes the discharge port, while said chambers will open as they pass port 4| so that the latter port becomes the inlet port.

When it is desired to utilize the device hereinq before described as a motor instead of ar pump,

then instead of shaft 25 being the driving shaft out interfering with the more general results outlined, and the invention extends to such use.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the nature described comprising a housing having a plurality of ports, and a plurality of parts rotatable within said housing, said parts comprising end members and an intermediate oscillatable member, said intermediate member having journal portions whereby it is pivotally connected to said end members, said journal portions coacting with said ports to form valve therefor. I

2. A device of the nature described comprising a housing having a plurality of ports, and a plurality of parts rotatable within said housing, said parts comprising end members and an intermediate oscillatable member, saidintermediate member having journal portions whereby it is pivotally connected to said end members, said journal portions extending across the interior of said housing and coacting at opposite ends with said ports to form valves therefor, the ends of said journal portions being larger than said ports. 3. A device of the nature described comprising a housing having a plurality of ports, and a plurality of parts rotatable within said housing, said parts comprising end members and an intermediate oscillatable member, said intermediate member having substantilly semi-cylindrical journal portions whereby said intermediate member is pivotally connected to said end members, said journal portions extendingacross the interior of said housing and coacting at opposite ends with said ports to form valves therefor.

4. A device of the nature described comprising a housing having a plurality of ports, and a plurality of parts rotatable within said housing, said parts comprising end members and an intermediate oscillatable member, said intermediate member having substantially semi-cylindrical journal portions on opposite surfaces thereof whereby said intermediate member is pivotally connected to said end members, said journal portions extending across the interior of said housing and coacting at opposite ends with said ports to form valves therefor.

5. A device of the nature described comprising a housing having a single inlet port and a single outletport, and a plurality of parts rotatable within said housing, said parts comprising end members and an intermediate oscillatable member, said intermediate member having journal portions whereby it is pivotally connected to said .end members, said journal portions coacting with said ports to form valves therefor.

6. A device of the nature described comprising a housing having a single inlet port and a single outlet port, and a plurality of parts rotatable within said housing, said parts comprising end.

members and an intermediate oscillatable member, said intermediate member having substantially semi-cylindrical journal portions whereby said intermediate member is pivotally connected to said end members, said journal portions extending across the interior of said housing and coacting at opposite ends with said ports to form valves therefor.

7. A device of the nature described comprising a housing having a single inlet port and a single outlet port, and a plurality of parts rotatable within said housing, said parts comprising end members and an intermediate oscillatable member, said intermediate member having substantially semi-cylindrical journal portions on opposite surfaces thereof whereby said intermediate member is pivotally connected to said end members, said journal portions extending across the interior of said housing and coacting at opposite ends with said ports to form valves therefor.

8. A device of the nature described comprising a housing having a spherical interior and a plurality of ports, and a plurality of parts rotatable within said housing, said parts comprising substantially hemispherical end members and an intermediate oscillatable member, said intermediate member having journal portions on opposite surfaces thereof whereby it is pivoted to said end members, said journal portions extending across the interior of said housing and coacting at opposite ends with said ports to form valves therefor.

9. A device of the nature described'comprising a housing having a spherical interior and a plurality of ports, and a plurality of parts rotatablewithin saidhousing, said parts comprising substantially hemispherical end members and an intermediate oscillatable member, said intermediate member having a substantially semi-cylindrical journal portion on each surface thereof whereby said intermediatemember is pivotally connected to said end members, said journal portions being positioned at right angles to each other for universal movement of one end member relative to the other end member, said journal portions extending across the interior of said housing and coacting at opposite ends with said ports to form valves therefor.

10. A device of the nature described comprising a housing having a spherical interior and a single inlet port and a single outlet port, and a plurality of parts rotatable within said housing, said parts comprising substantially hemispherical end members and an intermediate oscillatable member, said intermediate member having journal portions on opposite surfaces thereof whereby it is pivoted to said end members, said journal portions extending across the interior of said housing and coacting at opposite ends with said ports to form valves therefor.

11. A device of the nature described compris ing a housing having a spherical interior and a single inlet port and a single outlet port, and a plurality of parts rotatable within said housing,

therefor.

12. A device of the nature described comprising a housing having a spherical interior and a plurality of ports, a plurality of parts rotatable within said housing, said parts comprising substantially hemispherical end members and an intermediate/ oscillatable member, said intermediate member having a substantially semi-cylindrical journal portion on each surface thereoi whereby said intermediate member is pivotally connected to said end members, said journal portions being positioned at right angles to each other for universal movement of one end member relative to the other end member, and means whereby the axis of rotation 01 one of said hemispherical members may be adjusted relative tothe axis of rotation of the other 0! said members, said journal portions extending across the interior of said housing and coacting at opposite ends with said ports to form valves therefor.

' FRANK E. HOLMES. 

